St. Paul,  MN (KROC-AM News) - A Mayo Clinic physician has been appointed to the state’s new Opioid Advisory Council.

Dr. Halena Gazelka is among the 19 people selected to develop recommendations for combating the opioid epidemic using the estimated $20 million generated by a new fee paid by opioid prescribers, manufacturers, and distributors. A news release from the Minnesota Department of Human Services says the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council includes legislative and tribal leaders, health care professionals, addiction treatment experts, mental illness and public health experts, and a judge, along with people suffering from chronic pain and individuals in long-term recovery from opioid addiction.

The group’s first meeting is scheduled next Friday and the panel’s first recommendations are due in March of next year.

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